Cicely Saunders is universally acclaimed as a pioneer of modern hospice care. Trained initially in nursing and social work, she qualified in medicine in 1958 and subsequently dedicated the whole of ...
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Cicely Saunders is universally acclaimed as a pioneer of modern hospice care. Trained initially in nursing and social work, she qualified in medicine in 1958 and subsequently dedicated the whole of her professional life to improving the care of the dying and bereaved people. Founding St Christopher's Hospice in London in 1967, she encouraged a radical new approach to end of life care combining attention to physical, social, emotional and spiritual problems, captured in her concept of ‘total pain’. Her ideas about clinical care, education and research have been hugely influential, leading to numerous prizes and awards in recognition of her humanitarian achievements. This book includes a selection of Cicely Saunders' most important writings throughout a period of over forty years. Full articles, chapters, editorials, reviews, and commentaries include important clinical themes relating to the care of dying people such as pain and symptom management, issues of communication and truth telling, and the needs of particular patient groups, such as those with cancer and other diseases. The book includes pieces that reflect on the wider development of the palliative care field and on policy and organisational issues. Some of the papers take up the theme of spiritual care at the end of life, as well as the question of euthanasia, raising in turn issues of a wider theological and philosophical nature. The book is a testimony to the personal contribution of Cicely Saunders and the influence she has had upon the modern field of palliative and end of life care.Less

Cicely Saunders : Selected Writings 1958-2004

Cicely Saunders

Published in print: 2006-01-05

Cicely Saunders is universally acclaimed as a pioneer of modern hospice care. Trained initially in nursing and social work, she qualified in medicine in 1958 and subsequently dedicated the whole of her professional life to improving the care of the dying and bereaved people. Founding St Christopher's Hospice in London in 1967, she encouraged a radical new approach to end of life care combining attention to physical, social, emotional and spiritual problems, captured in her concept of ‘total pain’. Her ideas about clinical care, education and research have been hugely influential, leading to numerous prizes and awards in recognition of her humanitarian achievements. This book includes a selection of Cicely Saunders' most important writings throughout a period of over forty years. Full articles, chapters, editorials, reviews, and commentaries include important clinical themes relating to the care of dying people such as pain and symptom management, issues of communication and truth telling, and the needs of particular patient groups, such as those with cancer and other diseases. The book includes pieces that reflect on the wider development of the palliative care field and on policy and organisational issues. Some of the papers take up the theme of spiritual care at the end of life, as well as the question of euthanasia, raising in turn issues of a wider theological and philosophical nature. The book is a testimony to the personal contribution of Cicely Saunders and the influence she has had upon the modern field of palliative and end of life care.

Cicely Saunders is universally acclaimed as a pioneer of modern hospice care. Trained initially in nursing and social work, she qualified in medicine in 1958 and subsequently dedicated the whole of ...
More

Cicely Saunders is universally acclaimed as a pioneer of modern hospice care. Trained initially in nursing and social work, she qualified in medicine in 1958 and subsequently dedicated the whole of her professional life to improving the care of dying and bereaved people. Founding St Christopher's Hospice in London in 1967, she encouraged a radical new approach to end-of-life care, combining attention to physical, social, emotional, and spiritual problems, brilliantly captured in her concept of ‘total pain’. Saunders' ideas about clinical care, education, and research have been hugely influential, leading to numerous prizes and awards in recognition of her humanitarian achievements. This book presents a selection of her vast correspondence, together with the author's commentary. The letters of Cicely Saunders tell a remarkable story of vision, determination, and creativity. They should be read by anyone interested in how we die in the modern world.Less

David Clark

Published in print: 2005-05-12

Cicely Saunders is universally acclaimed as a pioneer of modern hospice care. Trained initially in nursing and social work, she qualified in medicine in 1958 and subsequently dedicated the whole of her professional life to improving the care of dying and bereaved people. Founding St Christopher's Hospice in London in 1967, she encouraged a radical new approach to end-of-life care, combining attention to physical, social, emotional, and spiritual problems, brilliantly captured in her concept of ‘total pain’. Saunders' ideas about clinical care, education, and research have been hugely influential, leading to numerous prizes and awards in recognition of her humanitarian achievements. This book presents a selection of her vast correspondence, together with the author's commentary. The letters of Cicely Saunders tell a remarkable story of vision, determination, and creativity. They should be read by anyone interested in how we die in the modern world.

Despite the fact that most palliative care educators are involved in teaching, there is little literature devoted to education specifically within palliative care. This book bridges that gap, giving ...
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Despite the fact that most palliative care educators are involved in teaching, there is little literature devoted to education specifically within palliative care. This book bridges that gap, giving a wide-ranging, global view of palliative care education. It offers theoretical and practical insights, along with specific suggestions for developing knowledge and skills for teaching. It also contains extensive accounts of important contextual matters which influence the range and quality of palliative care education, including: interprofessional learning; continuing professional development; evaluation; and educational leadership. The development of palliative care as a clinical speciality is increasingly conducted at an international level, and a special feature of this book is the inclusion of chapters reviewing palliative care education in each continent. This encourages the sharing of knowledge across diverse healthcare systems and cultures. There is also an acknowledgement of the multi-professional team involved in palliative care, as education and training are looked at from the perspectives of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. The book is split into three distinct parts: Part 1 sets the scene for existing palliative care education, both in the UK and internationally. Part 2 focuses on the theory underpinning each aspect of teaching, learning and assessment, and then examines the practicalities of delivering these in the clinical setting. Part 3 explores ways of building and nurturing a culture of learning in palliative care, whether as an individual or as an organization.Less

Education in Palliative Care : Building a Culture of Learning

Published in print: 2007-02-22

Despite the fact that most palliative care educators are involved in teaching, there is little literature devoted to education specifically within palliative care. This book bridges that gap, giving a wide-ranging, global view of palliative care education. It offers theoretical and practical insights, along with specific suggestions for developing knowledge and skills for teaching. It also contains extensive accounts of important contextual matters which influence the range and quality of palliative care education, including: interprofessional learning; continuing professional development; evaluation; and educational leadership. The development of palliative care as a clinical speciality is increasingly conducted at an international level, and a special feature of this book is the inclusion of chapters reviewing palliative care education in each continent. This encourages the sharing of knowledge across diverse healthcare systems and cultures. There is also an acknowledgement of the multi-professional team involved in palliative care, as education and training are looked at from the perspectives of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. The book is split into three distinct parts: Part 1 sets the scene for existing palliative care education, both in the UK and internationally. Part 2 focuses on the theory underpinning each aspect of teaching, learning and assessment, and then examines the practicalities of delivering these in the clinical setting. Part 3 explores ways of building and nurturing a culture of learning in palliative care, whether as an individual or as an organization.

A book for nurses, doctors and all who provide end of life care, this volume guides readers through the ethical complexities of such care, including current policy initiatives, and encourages debate ...
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A book for nurses, doctors and all who provide end of life care, this volume guides readers through the ethical complexities of such care, including current policy initiatives, and encourages debate and discussion on their controversial aspects. Dived into two parts, the book introduces and explains clinical decision making-processes about which there is broad consensus, in line with guidance documents issued by the WHO, BMA, GMC, and similar bodies. The changing political and social context where ‘patient choice’ has become a central idea, and the broadened scope of patients' best interests, have added to the complexity of decision-making in end of life care. The authors discuss issues widely encountered by GPs, nurses, and hospital clinicians. These include patient choice, consent, life-prolonging treatment, and symptom relief including sedation. Part two explores the more controversial current end of life care initiatives, such as advance care planning, preferred place of care and death, euthanasia and assisted suicide, extended ideas of ‘best interests’, and the view that there are therapeutic duties to the relatives. Throughout their discussion the authors draw attention to loose ends and contradictions in some of the proposals. Examining the current policy of consumerist choice, they reject its place in the health service, proposing a realistic, fair, humane and widely adoptable system of end of life care. An appendix on ethical theories and terms is available online.Less

End of Life Choices : Consensus and controversy

Fiona RandallRobin Downie

Published in print: 2009-10-08

A book for nurses, doctors and all who provide end of life care, this volume guides readers through the ethical complexities of such care, including current policy initiatives, and encourages debate and discussion on their controversial aspects. Dived into two parts, the book introduces and explains clinical decision making-processes about which there is broad consensus, in line with guidance documents issued by the WHO, BMA, GMC, and similar bodies. The changing political and social context where ‘patient choice’ has become a central idea, and the broadened scope of patients' best interests, have added to the complexity of decision-making in end of life care. The authors discuss issues widely encountered by GPs, nurses, and hospital clinicians. These include patient choice, consent, life-prolonging treatment, and symptom relief including sedation. Part two explores the more controversial current end of life care initiatives, such as advance care planning, preferred place of care and death, euthanasia and assisted suicide, extended ideas of ‘best interests’, and the view that there are therapeutic duties to the relatives. Throughout their discussion the authors draw attention to loose ends and contradictions in some of the proposals. Examining the current policy of consumerist choice, they reject its place in the health service, proposing a realistic, fair, humane and widely adoptable system of end of life care. An appendix on ethical theories and terms is available online.

The past 30 years has seen a huge expansion in the provision of palliative care services. Because palliative medicine is a multidisciplinary specialty – combining the expertise of oncologists, ...
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The past 30 years has seen a huge expansion in the provision of palliative care services. Because palliative medicine is a multidisciplinary specialty – combining the expertise of oncologists, anaesthetists, nurses, and many other therapeutic groups – the effectiveness of such treatment can be very difficult to measure. Additionally, research involving terminally ill patients and their carers can also present a number of practical and ethical problems. In spite of this, current health policy demands evidence of the effectiveness and value for money of health service interventions at all levels of complexity, including the service level. This book provides an introduction to the theory and practice of the evaluation of palliative care services. It examines the methodological issues involved in the evaluation of palliative care and outlines a practical approach that is readily applicable to many other health care interventions. In particular, research issues involving terminally ill patients and their carers are analysed and discussed, and approaches suggested for future work.Less

Evaluating Palliative Care : Establishing the Evidence Base

Margaret Robbins

Published in print: 1998-03-26

The past 30 years has seen a huge expansion in the provision of palliative care services. Because palliative medicine is a multidisciplinary specialty – combining the expertise of oncologists, anaesthetists, nurses, and many other therapeutic groups – the effectiveness of such treatment can be very difficult to measure. Additionally, research involving terminally ill patients and their carers can also present a number of practical and ethical problems. In spite of this, current health policy demands evidence of the effectiveness and value for money of health service interventions at all levels of complexity, including the service level. This book provides an introduction to the theory and practice of the evaluation of palliative care services. It examines the methodological issues involved in the evaluation of palliative care and outlines a practical approach that is readily applicable to many other health care interventions. In particular, research issues involving terminally ill patients and their carers are analysed and discussed, and approaches suggested for future work.

Support for the family is a key component of palliative care practice and philosophy, with both patient and family construed as the ‘unit of care’. However, there is not always formal acknowledgement ...
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Support for the family is a key component of palliative care practice and philosophy, with both patient and family construed as the ‘unit of care’. However, there is not always formal acknowledgement of the importance of the family carer role, or that of friends, neighbours, and other non-professional, informal carers. Consequently, health and social care professionals find carer support work particularly challenging. Symptom management, personal care, and administering medications are just some of the tasks taken on by this group of non-professionals, and the impact of this role can have negative emotional, physical, financial and social implications on the care-giver. Furthermore, family carers consistently report unmet needs, and there has been a lack of intervention studies aimed at improving carer support. This book provides an evidence-based, practical guide to enable health and social care professionals to assess and respond to family carer needs. It also explores the wider sociological, policy, and research issues related to family carers and palliative care.Less

Family Carers in Palliative Care : A guide for health and social care professionals

Published in print: 2008-10-23

Support for the family is a key component of palliative care practice and philosophy, with both patient and family construed as the ‘unit of care’. However, there is not always formal acknowledgement of the importance of the family carer role, or that of friends, neighbours, and other non-professional, informal carers. Consequently, health and social care professionals find carer support work particularly challenging. Symptom management, personal care, and administering medications are just some of the tasks taken on by this group of non-professionals, and the impact of this role can have negative emotional, physical, financial and social implications on the care-giver. Furthermore, family carers consistently report unmet needs, and there has been a lack of intervention studies aimed at improving carer support. This book provides an evidence-based, practical guide to enable health and social care professionals to assess and respond to family carer needs. It also explores the wider sociological, policy, and research issues related to family carers and palliative care.

This book provides clinicians with practical and evidence-based guidelines to achieve effective, patient-centred communication in the areas of cancer and palliative care. It breaks communication down ...
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This book provides clinicians with practical and evidence-based guidelines to achieve effective, patient-centred communication in the areas of cancer and palliative care. It breaks communication down into key modules that cover the life-cycle of cancer care and includes coverage of diagnosis and treatment including clinical trials, empathic support in response to distress, transition to survivorship or palliative therapies, discussion of prognosis, conduct of family meetings, and care of the dying. Complementary training of cancer patients in their communication with the doctor completes the interactive dyad. The art of teaching, impact of gender and power in the consultation and the ethical context are carefully considered. Special communication challenges include discussion of genetic risk, rehabilitative and salvage surgery, promotion of treatment adherence, unanticipated adverse outcomes, intercultural issues, and fertility and sexuality. The value of decision aides, question prompt lists, audio-recording of consultations and use of the internet is illustrated. Theoretical models are examined from the medical school to the highly specialized practice, facilitation training and actor training are made explicit, and international approaches to communication skills training are compared and contrasted. Finally, research tools that assist in coding cancer consultations, evaluating training courses, and employing mixed methods in studies aid the reader in providing clear and sensitive communication when handling challenging situations whilst treating cancer sufferers and palliative care patients.Less

Handbook of Communication in Oncology and Palliative Care

Published in print: 2010-03-25

This book provides clinicians with practical and evidence-based guidelines to achieve effective, patient-centred communication in the areas of cancer and palliative care. It breaks communication down into key modules that cover the life-cycle of cancer care and includes coverage of diagnosis and treatment including clinical trials, empathic support in response to distress, transition to survivorship or palliative therapies, discussion of prognosis, conduct of family meetings, and care of the dying. Complementary training of cancer patients in their communication with the doctor completes the interactive dyad. The art of teaching, impact of gender and power in the consultation and the ethical context are carefully considered. Special communication challenges include discussion of genetic risk, rehabilitative and salvage surgery, promotion of treatment adherence, unanticipated adverse outcomes, intercultural issues, and fertility and sexuality. The value of decision aides, question prompt lists, audio-recording of consultations and use of the internet is illustrated. Theoretical models are examined from the medical school to the highly specialized practice, facilitation training and actor training are made explicit, and international approaches to communication skills training are compared and contrasted. Finally, research tools that assist in coding cancer consultations, evaluating training courses, and employing mixed methods in studies aid the reader in providing clear and sensitive communication when handling challenging situations whilst treating cancer sufferers and palliative care patients.

Eight hundred million people live in Africa, a continent which covers 22 percent of the world's surface and encompasses some fifty countries. Conflict, poverty, endemic diseases, and lack of clean ...
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Eight hundred million people live in Africa, a continent which covers 22 percent of the world's surface and encompasses some fifty countries. Conflict, poverty, endemic diseases, and lack of clean water pose serious challenges for the population, made worse by a rampaging AIDS pandemic. Huge loss of life has impacted dramatically on both health systems and social and family structures. As the attention of the world focused increasingly on Africa, the International Observatory on End of Life Care was commissioned to conduct a timely review of hospice and palliative care development across the continent. The Observatory undertook this review using an approach specially designed for resource-poor settings. Information was collected against an agreed template to allow comparisons between countries and regions. As a result, an insight is given into the challenges, opportunities and successes faced by hospice and palliative care workers, country by country, throughout the twenty-six countries in Africa where a palliative care initiative is underway. Strategies and models of care are explored, and the development of palliative care is viewed from various standpoints including ethnographic, historical, ethnic, demographic and epidemiological perspectives. This is the first book to focus exclusively on palliative care and hospice development in Africa.Less

Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa : A Review of Developments and Challenges

Michael WrightDavid Clark

Published in print: 2006-08-24

Eight hundred million people live in Africa, a continent which covers 22 percent of the world's surface and encompasses some fifty countries. Conflict, poverty, endemic diseases, and lack of clean water pose serious challenges for the population, made worse by a rampaging AIDS pandemic. Huge loss of life has impacted dramatically on both health systems and social and family structures. As the attention of the world focused increasingly on Africa, the International Observatory on End of Life Care was commissioned to conduct a timely review of hospice and palliative care development across the continent. The Observatory undertook this review using an approach specially designed for resource-poor settings. Information was collected against an agreed template to allow comparisons between countries and regions. As a result, an insight is given into the challenges, opportunities and successes faced by hospice and palliative care workers, country by country, throughout the twenty-six countries in Africa where a palliative care initiative is underway. Strategies and models of care are explored, and the development of palliative care is viewed from various standpoints including ethnographic, historical, ethnic, demographic and epidemiological perspectives. This is the first book to focus exclusively on palliative care and hospice development in Africa.

Palliative care is rapidly evolving as a multidimensional therapeutic model devoted to improving the quality of life of all patients with life-threatening illness. Symptom control, management of ...
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Palliative care is rapidly evolving as a multidimensional therapeutic model devoted to improving the quality of life of all patients with life-threatening illness. Symptom control, management of psychosocial and spiritual concerns, decision making consistent with values and goals, and care of the imminently dying that is appropriate and sensitive to the unique needs of the individual and the family — these are among the critical issues addressed through palliative care. As this discipline has evolved, the need for research in all these areas has become widely acknowledged. This book describes both the progress that has already been made in the investigation of these issues and the methodologic elements that must be addressed in future studies. The perspective is broad and the overriding goal is to inform about the state of the art in these rapidly evolving areas of research.Less

Issues in Palliative Care Research

Published in print: 2003-09-04

Palliative care is rapidly evolving as a multidimensional therapeutic model devoted to improving the quality of life of all patients with life-threatening illness. Symptom control, management of psychosocial and spiritual concerns, decision making consistent with values and goals, and care of the imminently dying that is appropriate and sensitive to the unique needs of the individual and the family — these are among the critical issues addressed through palliative care. As this discipline has evolved, the need for research in all these areas has become widely acknowledged. This book describes both the progress that has already been made in the investigation of these issues and the methodologic elements that must be addressed in future studies. The perspective is broad and the overriding goal is to inform about the state of the art in these rapidly evolving areas of research.

This is an important book on a very important and increasingly relevant subject for all who are involved in any way with palliative and End of Life Care. It is about the realities, messiness, ...
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This is an important book on a very important and increasingly relevant subject for all who are involved in any way with palliative and End of Life Care. It is about the realities, messiness, uncertainties, contradictions, paradoxes and ambivalence that are part and parcel of living through advanced illness, dying and bereavement but also about what helps and heals. It is about responding to feelings, hopes, fears and stresses associated with major illness, often experienced by patients and their carers, both family and professional. The content is largely drawn from research and clinical experience as a psychotherapist and pastoral carer in bereavement counselling and palliative care. It is not about technical medical procedures. Its value lies in the highlighting of the non-technical role and presence of caregivers. The aim is to help carers in training both professional and volunteer or who are already in practice, to understand better the attitudes and behaviour of their patients or clients. It could also be of help to teachers and trainers in the field of hospice, palliative and bereavement care and to patients and their families and friends as they try to come to terms with their own situations and how they can cope better with them. The book reviews a range of responses to illness and loss, the challenges posed to countless patients, relatives and carers and the support both personal and organisational. It is written in an accessible style using many stories shared with the authors. This publication offers an inspiring way for people in contemporary society to review death as part of life. (263 words)Less

Life to be Lived : Challenges and choices for patients and carers in life-threatening illnesses

Catherine ProotMichael Yorke

Published in print: 2013-10-03

This is an important book on a very important and increasingly relevant subject for all who are involved in any way with palliative and End of Life Care. It is about the realities, messiness, uncertainties, contradictions, paradoxes and ambivalence that are part and parcel of living through advanced illness, dying and bereavement but also about what helps and heals. It is about responding to feelings, hopes, fears and stresses associated with major illness, often experienced by patients and their carers, both family and professional. The content is largely drawn from research and clinical experience as a psychotherapist and pastoral carer in bereavement counselling and palliative care. It is not about technical medical procedures. Its value lies in the highlighting of the non-technical role and presence of caregivers. The aim is to help carers in training both professional and volunteer or who are already in practice, to understand better the attitudes and behaviour of their patients or clients. It could also be of help to teachers and trainers in the field of hospice, palliative and bereavement care and to patients and their families and friends as they try to come to terms with their own situations and how they can cope better with them. The book reviews a range of responses to illness and loss, the challenges posed to countless patients, relatives and carers and the support both personal and organisational. It is written in an accessible style using many stories shared with the authors. This publication offers an inspiring way for people in contemporary society to review death as part of life. (263 words)

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